NYU Tisch Class Projects

In pursuit of a film degree, I’ve written, directed, and edited several projects in class. From Sight and Sound courses at New York University to Smartphone Cinema in NYU Paris, the following videos showcase my growth as a storyteller and as a human being while dipping toes in the waters of both film and television.

TL;DR

PROJECT SUMMARY:
Short films I wrote, directed, & edited in film school

DELIVERABLES:
Short films for each course

MY CONTRIBUTION:
Creative development
Scriptwriting
Casting
Creative direction
Video direction
Production
Video editing

dreaming in a train (2020)

  • “Dreaming in a Train” is an experimental short film that captures the atmosphere of the space & the emotions running through the mind of a passenger as they commute on a train. There is a familiar feeling of stress & chaos prior to boarding, but as the doors close, a new world comes alive.

    Overhearing conversations, watching people in subtle reflections, gazing out the window of a beautiful city. All of which provokes a sense of nostalgia & togetherness in moments meant to be lonely. Almost as if the passenger were in a dream.

    This was the 5th project for NYU Paris Smartphone Cinema, taught by professor Sam Azulys. The class was required to use a phone to record different shots of a singular theme while exploring the deeper emotions & experiences that come with it while telling a story.

    Equipment Used
    Camera: iPhone 11
    Editing software: Adobe Premiere Pro

lola (2019)

  • A grandchild asks her grandpa for a bedtime story, so he tells the heartwarming tale of how he met her grandmother. From moving to the US, to working on the fields, to dancing at a dance hall, to buying a house, & asking for her hand in marriage, “Lola” is a historical fiction short film of a Filipino man's migration to America and his romantic encounter along the way.

    Drawing inspiration for Geoffrey Dunn’s A Dollar a Day, 10 Cents a Dance and CBS’s How I Met Your Mother, this short follows a documentary style narrative. Though the dialogue & characters may have been written as fictional, the story reigns true for many Filipino Americans in the 1920s.

    This was the final project for NYU Sight & Sound Filmmaking Spring 2019 taught by professor David Irving. The project requires a five-minute short & encourages the use of color and sound.

    Equipment Used
    Camera: Canon EOS C200
    Editing software: Adobe Premiere Pro
    Coloring software: Adobe Premiere Pro
    Lighting: Chimera Pancake Lantern Softbox

open mic night (2019)

  • A man drinks in a bar on Open Mic Night to cope with a recent breakup. After several shots, he volunteers to sing. As he strums his ukulele, each chord triggers a memory with his ex. “Open Mic Night” is a short film that plays with lighting, sound, & music to portray the fading memories of a past relationship.

    This was the 4th project for NYU Sight & Sound Filmmaking Spring 2019 taught by professor David Irving. The project does not permit shooting in color & with full dialogue but allows sound effects & music.

    Equipment Used
    Camera: Canon EOS C200
    Editing software: Adobe Premiere Pro
    Lighting: Mole-Richardson Tweenie

good company (2019)

  • A working man comes home with cold, unpromising Filipino takeout, only reminding himself of his mother’s cooking when he was younger. The food was warm, homemade, & above all, shared. But the older you get, the greater loneliness becomes. Or perhaps the audience could interpret the plot as a man reminiscing on moments he once shared with his wife & kid. Regardless, “Good Company” is a short film encompassing the feelings of nostalgia, loneliness, & regret while highlighting themes of family and childhood.

    This was the 3rd project for NYU Sight & Sound Filmmaking Spring 2019 taught by professor David Irving. The project does not permit shooting in color, sound, & with dialogue. The director must also utilize the element of soft lighting.

    Equipment Used
    Camera: Canon EOS C200
    Editing software: Adobe Premiere Pro
    Lighting: LED Light Panel, Chimera Pancake Lantern Softbox

light hearted (2018)

  • “Light Hearted” is a studio short about a young boy named Sosuke & his mother navigating day-to-day life while his father is at sea. On the night of Sosuke’s father’s promised return, they prepare decorations & dinner for his welcome, but things take an unexpected turn, leaving Sosuke and his mother to discover the hardships of family.

    This short is a studio-adapted version of scenes from Hayao Miyazaki’s Ponyo. The short highlights art design along with emotion translated through the English language to make the animated film more life-like & heartfelt. Through the use of lighting & scripted dialogue, the title was made.

    This was the final project for NYU Sight & Sound Studio Fall 2018 taught by professor Evelyn McVeigh. The project must be shot on a set with live cutting along with dialogue.

    Equipment Used
    Camera: Multi-camera studio
    Editing software: Adobe Premiere Pro
    Lighting: Lighting options provided in studio